Crate



Aug. w 1&24.

J. A. LENNARTSON Filed Sept 29 1921 can-E 2 Swamp-Sheet 2 knew/0r:

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNIT En 's' rnrssj JOHN A. LENnARTSONQOF s'r. rnun'mmivnsore.

mm I I Application: filed September 29,1921. Serial No. 504,054;

Improvement in Grates, of which the fol-f lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to cratesjand has for its object to provide acollapsible crate in which all of the parts are connected ly heldtogether in either the erected or collapsed position of the same. iAnother object of the invention is toprovide a bottom portion having amarginal t strip extending around the same within which the top andsides are adapted to be folded when the crate is collapsed, so that thesame are containedcompletely.within.

said marginal strip.

Another object is to form the crate so that no portion thereof project-soutside of; the bottom and marginal strip when the.

crate iscollapsed so that the cr'atemaybe conveniently piled or stackedwithout ob-. struction. I

' Another object is to provide a centralpartition for holding all of thepartsinseli-= supporting position when the crate is erected. v

A still further object is toaprovidea single latch member for holdingthe parts properly. latched in either the erected or the collapsedposition of the crate.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a bottom member and a topmember together with a number of side members, and to hingedly connectsaid; side members to either or" said top or bottomand to slidablyconnect the other of said sidemembers A still further object is toprovide the top of the crate with a central supporting member extendingacross the entire crate and to provide the top with auxiliary, closuremembers adapted to independently close either of the two compartmentsformed on each side of the central partition.

The iull'objects and advantages of my invention will appearin-connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularlypointed out in the claims. In t e drawings, illustrating theapplica tionof my invention in one form;- Fig, 1 is a plan view ofmy inventiomflFig. 2 is a sectional elevational'l view taken on line 22 ot-Figurel;

V to the other of said top or bottom.

Fig. 3 a sectional elevational I view taken on line of Figure 1 with thecover member swung open.

Fig. 4 is aview similar to Figure 3 show-1 ing the crate partlycollapsed. w Fig. 5, 1s arview similar to Figure 4 show:- mg: the cratecompletely collapsed.

Fig. 6' is a view similar to Figure 3 sh r ng the crate completel cqllapd as indi} Gated in Figure p p Fig. 7 is an enlargeddetail view showingthe method oislidably connectingthe uprights to the base.

-Fig. 8 is anenlargedqdetail View showing the manner 30f, latching theparts together in the collapsed position ofthe crate.

, My collapsible crate, is especially designed for shipping vtowls,although it may readily;

be used; for shipping other commodities equally as well. p

''The device is best shown in Figures 1, 2, and'3 and comprises abase'A, a top 13, side wallsyG and D, and end walls E and F. The base A.is formed with perimetric strips 10, 11, 12 and 13 which are rigidlynailed together at their; corners and whichhave securedto the loweredges thereof a bottom 14 extending completely across the'same, havingits edges flush; with the 'outwardly extending" faces of said strips.For, the purpose ofstiffening and making iteasy to convey the deviceaboutthej floor a number ofskids 1'5, 16,and17 are employed; which runlongitudinally of the crate. The base A forms the container for theWallsQ' D, E, and F and thejtop B after the same, is collapsed as willbepresently explained.'

The top B of the device comprisesa number of slats 18,19, 20'and 21whicharosecurelynailed at their, ends to the edgesoi" a pail-of battens QQand 23'which extend downwardly fromthe said top, as clearly indicated inFigure 2.. The battensQQ and 23 have hingedlyconnected tothem pairs ofuprights 24; and 25 by means ofhinges 26 and 27. .These' uprights havenailed to.

them cross rails 28, 29, SO and 131, which i'orm the end walls E and Fof the. crate proper. Tothe, slat members 18 andQl are "hingedly'connectedby means of hinges 32, 33, and3 l number'of uprights 36, and37 similar to the u'prights 24 and 25 which in like mannerhavesecurely'nailed to them rails 38 and 39' forming theside walls C and Dof the invention.

:fiIt .can'c'learly be seen from Figure both the side and end Mmehingedly opposite direction thereto.

connected 'to the-top B so that the same cannot be removed therefrom.The method of securing the structure to the base A can best be seen inFigures 2, 3 and 7. Each of the four uprights 24 and 25 is provided witha groove 40 extending along one edge thereof, which grooveterminatesin a'depression 41 formed at the upper end thereof. Vithin each of the saidgrooves and depressions is positioneda wire member 42 which is adaptedto engage. within the depression 41 to hold the said-wiremember 42within manner similar to the end 42 exceptingthat the-same portionextends outwardly in an When member 42 is positioned .within the slot 40asbefore stated, end 43 is engaged within the depression 41 while thebody-portion of the said wire member lies flush with the edge of theupright and the other end 44 of said wire member'projects entirelyoutwardly beyond said uprights. Throughout the entire length of the twomarginal strips 11 and 13 are provided two longitudinal 46, whichmembers swing at the hingedconslots 45 and 46. is

These slots are of such a size as topermit the portions 44 of wiremembers 42 to slide along the same and to permit of the uprights towhich said members are connected to swing thereon.- To prevent excessivewear of the strips 11 and 13 in the said slots 45 and 46 I provideangular metallic strips 47 which line the upper and out- Wardlyextending surfaces of said slots and strips so as to-take up all thewear of said wlre members upon the said 'strlps. To prev'entthespringing inward of the uprights 25 and 24 and the disengagement of thewire members 42 with slots 45 and 46 the said uprights are rabbeted intothe lowermost rails 2.9 and 30 of the end walls E and F as shown indotted lines in Figure 2.

The method of collapsing the device can best be seen in Figures 4 and 5.'When the deviceis erected the parts take the positions as shown inFigures 2 and 3. It will here be notedthat the size of the top Bincluding the battens 22 and 23 is such that when the device iscollapsed the said to to'this the two side walls G and D are. formedof'a length substantially equal to the distance between the innerportions of theend walls E and F and the battens 22 and 23. This permitsof folding both of the side walls C and D upwardly upon the- -cabinetwork.

' OCCHTS.

hinges 32, 33, and 34 so that the said walls may take the positionindicated in Figure 4. 1 For retaining the said side walls in thisposition I provide a pair of snap latch buttons 48 such as are now'incommon use in After the two side walls C and D have been folded up asshown in Figure 4 the same become positioned within and above the tworails 22 and 23 which permit of the swinging of the two end walls E andF upwardly the said rails 22 and 23 being of such a depth to lie flushwith the bottom thereof and to permit the end walls of coming inparallel contact with the side walls after the crate has been completelycollapsed as clearly indicated in Figure 5. In this manner it can bereadily seen that all of the walls may be folded up relative to the topso that the same all lie inplanes parallel to one another positioningall the parts close together so as to avoid waste in space. Incollapsingthe device the two side walls O and D are first swung upwardly into theposition shown in Figure 4 in which position they are held by means ofthe snap buttons 48. The end walls E and F are now slid inwardly on thewire members 42 along the grooves 45 and nections 27 and 26 after thesaid sliding lVhen the said sliding andhinging action is complete theentire structure has taken the position indicated in Figure 5 with thetopof the device flush with the top edge of the strip members 10,11, 12and 13 extending around the base A, so that no portion of the crate liesabove this structure. The action of the device in collapsing-is clearlyindicated in Figure 4 in which the end wall E is shown as partly movedinwardly and the crate partly collapsed, I

It can readily be seen from the drawings that whenrthe side walls C andD are held outwardly that movement of the end walls E and F isabsolutely prevented due to the fact that the edges of the side wallsfall within the endsof the-end walls so that the same are absolutelyheld from movement I until the said side walls are swung upwardly intothe position shown in Figure 4. The device for holding the side walls inposition when the crate is erected comprises a central partition whichis indicated in its entirety at G. This partition comprises a pair ofuprights 50 and 51which have nailed to them rails 52 and 53. Thispartitionis of a width equal .to the distance between the interior.portions of the two side walls C and, I

D when the crate is erected and said parti tion is of aheight just equalto the distance betweenthe top B and the bottom 14to the base A.Partition G isslidablyconnected in amanner similar to the end walls andF by wlre members dentical w th the wire I was?" members 42 positionedin theuprights and 51 so that the said partition isfree to slide alongthe grooves 45 and- 46 and to swing upon the ends of these wire members.

In its erected position partition G is posi tioned adjacent the uprights36 of theside walls C and D with'its rails 52 and 53 in contact with theedges thereof. WVhen the device is to be collapsed the end wall G :isswung about its pivot in the grooves 45 and 46 toward the end wall Funtil the same lies upon the bottom 14 of the base A.,

When the same reaches this position the said partition is absolutelyfree of the two sidewalls G and D, the said partition lying between theuprights35 and 36 and below the lowermost rail 39.. This permits ofswinging the said side walls C andD upwardly to their collapsedposition. After the wall members E and F are swung inthe partition Gtowards the end 'wall Fl.

When the upper end of the partition is. held from movement by means tobe presently described it can be readily comprehended that the saidpartition is rigidly secured in place. 1 I

For gaining access to the crate I provide a hinged cover member H,whichis best shown in Figures 1 and 3 This cover mem-fv her comprises apair of'slats"55 and 56, which run parallel with the slats 18, 19,120and 21 of top B. The said slats have rig idly secured to them battens57', 58, 59 and 60 which are nailed to the endsand'the center portionsof said slats and whichlie flush with the edge of slat 5611116; whichproject appreciably beyond theedge ot the slat 55 to form latch members61 for holds ing said cover in place. The cover 'H 'is hinged to slat 20of the top B by IDBZLIISO'E hinges 62 and 68 of a well known typey whichpermit of the cover being folded back to lie flush on top voat theslats20 and 210% top B as clearly indicated in Figure 3whjeir the coveris thrown open. opening: the cover the same 1s grasped by the slat 55and pulled upwardly and towards the side wall D. This swings the coveron the two hinges 62 and 63 in such a manner that the latch portions 61of slats 57, 58, 59 and GO are" brought away from in under the slat'19.After the said latch portions are freedfroin slat 19 the cover maybeswung upwardly on its hinges in 3;

For latching the parts proper relation I employa device best-shown inFigures 1 and Alatch bar 70 is employed which is slidably mountedbetween the'rail 58 and a keeper 71 securcd'to thetwo slats 55, and56.... This latch bar is' adapted to engage a latch member 72 secured tothejupper rail 52 of the lcenter partition, G At the remote end of thelatch 17 the same is'turned to take the position indicated up at 72 toprovide a head for attaching a bolt-J3 thereto. Bolt 73 is'slidablymounted; in a bracket 74 secured to the undersides of slats 55 and 56and has positioned on ita 6011 spring "Z5 (Joacting between the head 72and the bracket? 4. When the latch bar "70 is [slid along the keeper 71and bracket 74 against the action of spring 75 the s amemay be withdrawnfrom engage' ment with the latch member 72 to release the partition G.In conjunction with this latching mechanismthe battens 58 and 59 arearrangedso'as, to just lie on each side of upper rail member [52 ofpartition G. It

can hence be clearly comprehended that when the latch bar '70 is inengagement with the latch member 72 that the door H is held down in;place upon partition G and thatpartition G is held from movement at itsupper portion by means of the battens 58 and 59 and at its lower portionby. means of the stopq54 and engagement with the uprights 36. Thesecuring of battens G in this manner, holds the side walls-C and Dfromjmovement when the same are prevented from swinging by the ends or"partition G which coactagainstthe rails 38 and 39 thereof. [Ina similarmanner the said side walls 0 and D engage the uprights 24' andj25oftheend walls E and I and so hold 'the same from movement. In this mannerthe single latch bar 70 holds the entire crate ina rigid erectedposition; For holding the devicelatchedwhen collapsed I; provide a hingeW'which is secured on one ofits leaves 776 to the b0ttom14 of the base Aand which has its otherhin'ge' 78 adapted to normallyli'e flat upon thesaid leaf 76 when the crate iserected and tobe swung upwardly in theposition shown in FigurefS when the crate isjcol'lap sed so that itsextreme end 79 which is formed similar 1 to" the lat eh member 72 'n'iaybe engaged by the latch bar ,70jto hold the parts infixed position;Thekeeper 71 may be provided withan upturned lip'80 which together p thehinged member 79 and the latch lniji'lf her 72 may be provided withregistering holes 81 throughwhicha seal may be placed to prevent theremoval of the eontents, ofthe crate and to prevent tamperlng any;

way fwith'thesame.

,' lVhenthe crate s used tforfshipping ifowls a I I provide a devicewhich may be used inconiunction with the .doorI-I. This device serves toclose either of the two openings to the compartments in the crate whenthe principal closure member Hhas been lifted back so that the fowlsfrom either compartment cannot escape while the fowls from the othercompartment are being removed. The devices are best shown in Figure 1,each of which comprises a grate shaped wire member 100 which is providedwith a number of prongs or. tines 101', which are devices can bedispensed with.

In the use of my improved crate the same is first erected and thecommodity to be shipped packed therein. If desired the latchingmechanism may be sealed through the holes 81 of the latching device sothat the contents of the crate cannot be tampered with. After the cratehas reached its destination and the contents removed thecrate maybecollapsed as clearly shown in Figure 5 with the latching mechanismpositioned as indicated in Figure 8. With the parts as arrangedasindicated in Figure 5 the entire constructionlies flush with the upperedges of the strips 10, 11, 12, and 13 so that any number of crates maybe piled one upon the other without forming an unstable pile. It will benoted that the size of the crates as collapsed is considerably less thanwhen the same are erected thereby effecting a'considerable saving ofexpress or freight charges when the crates are returned to the owner.The crate is particularly useful in I that the same maybe used for anynumber of purposes without any alteration in the design or arrangementof theparts. One of the principal advantages of the invention lies inthe fact that all of the parts are at all times fastened together sothat the same cannot be lostand the crate be returned with certain partsthereof missing, thus renderingthe same useless. The crate can beerected very rapidly and similarly 1e01- lapsed with little effort. Ifdesired one of, the side doors may be raisedupwardly and.

the crate used for a chicken coop. With the side wall openthe crate canbe conveniently cleaned andv the dirt removed through the opening thusafforded. I

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principlesof operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I nowconsiderto represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to haveit understood that. the .construction shown is only illustrative andthat the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to usesother than those above set forth within the scope of the followingclaims: I claim LIA collapsible crate comprising atop, a

base, end walls hingedly connected to said top, side walls hingedlyconnected to said top, all of said walls being adapted to be foldedbeneath said top and positioned between said top and base when the crateis in collapsible position and means for connecting some of said wallsto said base.

2. A collapsible crate comprising a base, perimetric strips extendingaround said base, a top adapted to fitdown upon said base, side wallsconnected to said top, end walls connected to said top, said side andend walls beingfadapted to be folded beneath said top andto extendwithin said perimetric strips and beneath said top and base and meansfor connecting some of said walls to said base;

A. collapsible crate comprising a top, side walls hingedly connected tosaid top adapted to fold flat up against the same, end walls hingedlyconnected to said top adapted to fold fiat up against said side walls,:a base, means for slidably connecting said end walls v to said base,means for holding said parts in ing the parts in'erected position, abolt secured to said top, means formed on said artition and bottomadapted to be enga 'e by said boltto hold the crate in collapsedposition. I I

5. collapsible crate comprising a base, a top, apartial closure memberformed in said top, side and end walls adapted to be collapsed withinthe crate, a partition for holding the parts in erected position, a boltsecured to said partial-closure, means formed on said closure forholding the. partition from movement and means formed on said partitionadapted to be engaged by'said bolt or holding the partial closureclosed.

ohA collapsible crate-comprising a base, perimetric, strips extendingaround said base, a top, depending battens secured to said top, wallshinged to said depending battens at one end, and means for slidablyconnecting said walls at their other end to said perimetric strips.

7. A collapsible crate comprising a base, perimetric' strips extendingaround said base, a top, depending battens formed on connecting saidwalls at their other ends to said perimetric strips.

8. A collapsible crate comprising a base,

perimetric strips extending around said base,

a top, depending battens formed on said top,

side walls hingedly connected to said top at one end and adapted toswing upwardly to lie flat against the under surface thereof, dependingbattens secured to said top at the other ends thereof, said battenslying flush with said side walls in their folded up position, and endwalls hingedly connected to said battens and adapted to foldup and lieflat against said side walls.

10. A collapsible crate comprising a top,

side walls hingedly connected to said top at I one end and adapted toswing upwardly to lie fiat against the under surface thereof, dependingbattens secured to said top at the other ends thereof, said battenslyingflush with said side walls in their folded up position, end wallshingedly connected to said battens and adapted to fold up andlie flatagainst said side walls, a base, andmeans for slidably connecting thelower ends of said end walls to said base.

11. In combination with a collapsible crate having a base comprising abottom, guide-ways formed along said bottom, walls, grooves formed insaid Walls, notches formed in the ends of said grooves and a wire memberpositioned in each of said grooves having inwardly'turned endspositioned in said notches and outwardly turned ends-formed on each ofsaid wire members adapted to en gage said guide-ways.

'12. A, collapslble crate comprising a base,

atop, end walls movably connected to said i base and hingedly connectedto said top, stops formed on said base for terminatingv the movement ofsaid end wallsin one direction, side walls hingedly connected to saidtop andada'pted to operate between said end walls, stops formed on saidbase fortermi nating the movement of said sidewall in one direction, anda partition movably posi- 'tioned between said sidewalls for holding thesame from movement in the other direction, and means for latching saidpartition tosaid top. I v I 13. A collapsible crate comprising a base, atop, side and end walls hingedly connected to said top, means formovably connecting some of said walls to said base, a partitionpositioned between two of said walls and means for slidably and hingedlyconnecting said partition to said base. i

14. A collapsible crate comprising a base, a pair of guide-waysextending along the two sidesof said base, a top, side and end wallshingedly connected to said top, means for slidably and pivotallysecuring two of vsaid walls to said guide-ways, a partition positionedwithin the crate and means for slidably and pivotally connecting saidpartition to said guide-way.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

I J A. LENNARTSON.

